Hawaii Emergency Systems
If you are new to the island, on orders to PCS or already on here but would like to know more about the Island Emergency system then this post is for you. As you have probably noticed island life has many perks, however like any other places there are some cons…mostly weather related. It is always great to stay prepared in case of an emergency and stay updated whatever comes our way. If you are trying to stay informed here are some very useful resources to keep up to date with all Hawaii related emergency information. www.hawaii.gov – You can use the Hawaii.gov site to stay updated with all Counties and Cities alert management. Click on Residents> Emergency information then notifications to see all the emergency notifications in the area. You can find all messages to include weather, road closures and more. http://www.honolulu.gov/dem/default.html - This site has great resources on how to prepare yourself and your family for a disaster, how to build a 14 day supply kit, how to prepare your home, finding shelters, information through radio and cell phone apps. You can download the app for HNL information using the links below for Android and Apple products. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hnl-info/id1227912811 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.honolulu.hnlinfo The site also offers siren information according to the category of sirens used i.e., testing, alert, Hazmat, tamper alert and more. The Hawaii Emergency System is the emergency system agency for Hawaii and serves as the coordinating agency for the 4 counties in the state. According to the National Incident Management System all disaster response starts at county level. This site shows Hurricane shelter information, alert system sign-up, Tsunami evacuation zones, preparedness information, nuclear threats… You can sign up for their emergency alerts using the link below http://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/get-ready/ or visit their site at http://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/emergency-management/emergency-alert-system-plan/ Another great way to stay informed is using the FEMA wireless emergency alerts. https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system/public/wireless-emergency-alerts#enhancements These are not subscription based and do not require sharing personal information. Their alert categories include Presidential alerts, imminent treats, emergency response, public safety like Amber alerts. These are also based on location and you opt-in by using your cellphone settings. Check your cellphone notifications and settings in order to receive these alerts. Any time you receive the alert the message will indicate the type of alert, time of alert, the action you should take and the agency issuing the alert. If you do not receive the WEA alert it could be due to cell reception. If you would like to learn more about FEMAS Integrated Public Alert & Warning System you can visit https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system If the sites mentioned above do not work, you can always listen to the NOAA Weather Radio. https://www.weather.gov/nwr/ The NOAA Weather Radio is a nationwide network of radio stations that broadcast continuous weather information from the nearest National Weather Service office based on your physical location. For more information on emergency alerts, you can visit https://www.ready.gov/alerts. We highly recommend that everyone have multiple methods of receiving emergency information, you can also follow your Military Base emergency pages through social media to stay updated to base related protocols in case of an emergency.
Hawaii & Military Discounts
Welcome to Hawaii! One thing you have probably heard about island living even before you received orders here is how much more expensive things are compared to the mainland. Everything from gas prices, groceries, rent…the prices are high! However, Oahu is all about thanking service members and their families through discounts to attractions, eateries and more. Many local spots around the island offer Military discounts due to how much the Military community helps boosts Hawaiian economy. Now more than ever since tourism has taken a hit due to the pandemic. Here are some of our favorite businesses and attractions to visit and use their advertised Military discount. Disney Aulani Disney Aulani offers specific Military discounts for booking throughout the year, you can visit their website to check out dates. You can also follow the Aulani Staycation group stay info Facebook group to save on group booking deals and receive discounts throughout the year. https://www.facebook.com/groups/AulaniStaycation https://www.disneyaulani.com/ Atlantis Adventures Take a cruise adventure and go whale watching or go under the water in their submarine tour. Will re-open after March 2021 due to covid restrictions. https://atlantisadventures.com/military/ Kailua Beach Adventures Offers 25% off Military discount on their paddleboards, snorkel gear, kayaks, boogie boards and bikes rentals. https://www.kailuabeachadventures.com/military-discount-activities-oahu Honolulu Zoo If you are looking for a place to take the kids all year round the zoo is a great place to let them have fun. They offer military discount for adults 13 & over: $8.00 and children 3-12 years: $4.00 https://www.honoluluzoo.org/visit-honolulu-zoo/ Waimea Valley Waimea Valley’s botanical garden includes 52 themed gardens and is the home to over 5000 documented types of tropical and subtropical plants including native Hawaiian plants and globally endangered species. Enjoy the day at their waterfall. https://www.waimeavalley.net/admissions/view/fees WetnWild Hawaii Enjoy the day out in the sun at WetnWild. Have fun at their surf sliders, keiki kove and brave their Tornado tunnel slide. https://www.wetnwildhawaii.com/tickets/ Kualoa Ranch They offer Military and Kama’aina discounts on their tours and attractions. https://www.kualoa.com/military-kamaaina/ Dolphin Excursions Dolphin excursions and whale watching tours military discounts. https://dolphinexcursions.com/ Windward Mall Military Mondays at Windward mall is an all-year-round discount offered to Military members and their families. For a list of participating stores visit: https://www.windwardmall.com/events/military-mondays/ Ka Makana Ali’i Military Mondays at Ka Makana Ali’i shopping center is an all-year-round discount offered to Military members and their families. For a list of participating stores visit: https://www.kamakanaalii.com/event/Military-Mondays/2145490435/ Waikiki Aquarium Offers Military discount Currently the Aquarium is closed indefinitely due to COVID-19 restrictions. https://www.waikikiaquarium.org/visit/buy-tickets/ Bishop Museum Check out all the amazing exhibits and learn about Hawaiian culture and history. Visit their Planetarium and enjoy their monthly museum events. https://www.bishopmuseum.org/tickets/ Children Discovery Center Take the kids out for a day of learning fun. http://discoverycenterhawaii.org/general-information/ ‘Olino theaters Enjoy movie night at ‘Olino theaters. All verified Military members and families receive discount on tickets. https://www.consolidatedtheatres.com/olino/discounts There are plenty of places that offer discounts. If you are new to Hawaii and are looking to change your state I.D most places do offer Kama’aina discounts with a Hawaiian I.D verification. You can also visit your local MWR ITT office to check out the discounts they offer for attractions around Oahu. MWR Hawaii The MWR Hawaii offers military discounts on a variety of attractions all over Oahu. You can visit a MWR ITT location or check their website for more info. Their Yearly pricelist and specials is out now for 2021. https://hawaii.armymwr.com/programs/leisure-travel-services Hope you find these helpful and you get to enjoy Oahu to the fullest!
Move.mil, DPS & Making Your Move Simple
You have heard it before and you will hear it a million times again, PCS season gets chaotic. Moving is tough for everyone and moving across the country or to another country can make it more stressful. More so when you are moving with your whole family, all your belongings, pets, and have to ship your vehicles, look for a new place to live, join a new command, find a job and schools for your spouse and kids and well…everything else! It is tough period! But thankfully the Military has aimed to make the process a bit easier in the form on self-help by creating https://dps.move.mil/cust/standard/user/home.xhtml This self-help site allows you to create an account and start planning for your move once you receive hard orders. Create an account by signing in as needing to ship personal property then follow the steps. Once you have orders all the information in regards to your gaining command, location, whether dependents are allowed and what you are allowed to bring will be shown on the orders. If you have any questions during the process or once you receive orders you can always contact your personnel property office https://www.move.mil/resources/locator-maps Moves to or from Alaska and Hawaii along with international stations are considered OCONUS moves. These moves are more complicated and each location may have additional limitations on what you are allowed to transport. Here is the guide to Oconus moves: https://www.move.mil/moving-guide/oconus Once you create your account, upload your orders to create your shipment move. https://dps.move.mil/cust/standard/user/home.xhtml Once your shipment has been created take the DD forms generated by DPS to your local Transportation Office. They will confirm all information and shipping details and they will give you the moving company information. DPS will need to know the following information so have it ready: Your contact information: Estimated Weight Pick up & delivery locations Pick up & delivery dates Special items (boat, guns, RV, large electronics) PBP&E, also known as Professional-Gear (Pro-Gear) If you are uncertain of your estimated weight, you can use the inbound weight from your last move also you don't need to know your exact delivery address to schedule your move. You can just specify your new base and update it later. Your moving company will complete a Pre-Move Survey at your home or through the phone, depending on the type of shipment and estimated weight. They'll do a weight estimate and identify any special items entered in DPS, so that on moving day they have all the necessary packing materials. Call your moving company or local personal property office if you're within a week of moving day, and a Pre-Move Survey has not been completed. Before your packing day it is highly suggested that you create your own inventory of your HHGs and take photos to document all high valued items, important heirloom pieces or anything that you might want to keep good track of. Before packing it is always good to separate what items are traveling with you, which will be part of your unaccompanied baggage and which ones will be shipped as HHG. Items you'll pack in your suitcases (clothes, toiletries, important documents). Items you'll ship in unaccompanied baggage (linens, pots and pans). Items you'll ship with Household Goods (books, small furniture). Depending on your host country you might want to check if things like furniture will fit in your new home. For example; if you are heading to a place like Japan and living off base their rooms might not fit a California King size bed. For this you can always join a local Military group through social media to ask questions. Remember that important documents should travel with you: Orders, Passports, ID Cards front and back, Marriage License/Certificate, Birth Certificates. After all your items have been packed then comes moving day. The moving company will be creating an inventory of all your household items and will put stickers on all the boxes and larger items (couches, large appliances, etc.). On these inventory sheets, they will also be indicating whether or not there was any pre-existing damage to your household goods. If you disagree with their assessment make sure you annotate that on the inventory sheet. Please inform the driver of any issues that might come up. If he cannot help you, contact the local personnel property office asap! Once you arrive to your destination you will be notified when your UB and HHG makes it to your next duty station location. You will receive the inventory paperwork from the delivery driver and you will check off items and note any damages or missing inventory. This is an important step if you need to make claims later. The movers will take any boxes and packing materials after unloading and unpacking but will not return to your home to pick up anything else on a later date. If there is anything wrong you will need to sign in to the DPS site and follow the steps to either submit a Lost/Damage Report and/or Claims Submission. Filling out the Loss or Damage AT Delivery Form lets the moving company know that some of your items were missing or damaged during the delivery process. This form must be done within 75 days. If the items cannot be found or they cannot fix the damage, you must file a claim to be reimbursed! Remember… a Loss/Damage Report is NOT a claim! If you did not submit a Loss/Damage Report, you will need to file your claim within 75 days from delivery. If you submitted a Loss/Damage Report within the 75 day or within the 180 day window, you will have up to 9 months to file a claim for the full replacement value of the item you are claiming. If the claim is filed more than 9 months from the delivery date, you will only be eligible for depreciated value up to two years from delivery. Contact your Military Claims Office or MCO if you have questions. The last part will be a survey through DPS. This is very important since it helps DPS contract the right shipping company to work for the DOD. Here are a couple links to help you understand claims. https://www.move.mil/sites/default/files/inline-files/Inconvenience%20Claims%20September%202020.pdf https://www.move.mil/sites/default/files/inline-files/Final%20Claims%20Fact%20Sheet%20DPMO%208%20Mar%202021.pdf It is always great to be one step ahead with information on what you need to do and knowing the resources that are there to help. We hope this information helps you with your pcs.
Categories
Recent Posts
